Shadowsphere Part 6: The Dramatic Finale

Arthur watched with amazement as a huge hand, belonging to the little bushy black creature called Lily, carried a talking, spitting truck full of their enemies back to where he was waiting with Somnius and Jonas. This world was full of surprises.

“Can you see that box in the back?” Jonas whispered to the alchemist. “That’s the one!”

“Excellent!” replied Somnius. “Lily, when you get them here, let them go. We’ll try to come to an agreement with them. The biggest problem is the nightmare. They may not even know that it has escaped from its container. Arthur, be ready. If the nightmare appears, don’t stop to think, just drink the portal elixir straight away. Is that clear?”

Arthur nodded, dumbfounded. Somnius’s voice sounded suddenly more gentle, almost loving.

“This really is no joke, Arthur... The nightmare could be incredibly dangerous. We have no idea what it could do to you. Don’t try to be a hero this time.” His voice hardened again and regained its commanding tone: “Humbug! I know you have some unresolved issues from the past with their battle truck, Boxer.”

“I don’t have any problem with Boxer, he has a problem with me!” Humbug protested.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” hissed Somnius. “Let me do the talking. No provocation... please!”

Lily’s arm had now shrunk so much that Boxer’s rear bumper was just a few metres away from Arthur’s head. She jerked her shoulder back and forth several times, causing the truck to shake and the passengers to fall out of the windows. Arthur counted – there were about twelve of them, and they were really very varied in size. The smallest were about the same size as Arthur, but the biggest – presumably their leader – was almost…